Viral video shows confrontation between Black student and counterprotesters at Ole Miss

There are multiple videos circulating online showing the protests at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. But there’s one video, the one that you showed up a moment ago, that video in particular that has gone viral and is at the center of this controversy. Before I show you the video, we need to warn again our viewers that it may be offensive to some people. As you can see, the video shows a group of mostly young white men in the counter protests yelling at a black woman. At least one counter protester is seen on video and appears to be making gestures at the woman. We now know who the woman in the video is. Her name is Jalen R Smith and she’s 24 years old. She confirmed to my colleague Diane Gallagher that she is the woman seen in the video. Smith Smith said that during the protest, pro Palestinian demonstrators were kept in an enclosure which police said was for their safety. She also said that she briefly stepped out of the enclosure to go live on social media and that was when the confrontation took place. CNN has made efforts but has not identified any of the counter protesters seen in the video. We have also learned that the University of Mississippi has opened an investigation into student conduct but didn’t say who or what they were specifically investigating. In a letter, Chancellor Glenn F Boyce says University officials are, and here I quote, aware that some statements made were offensive, hurtful and unacceptable, including actions that conveyed hostility and racist overtones, Smith tells CNN. She said some insults back to the counter protesters but adds the following. And here I quote again people calling me fat or Liza Lissa, I should say, didn’t hurt my feelings because I know what I am. I am so confident in my blackness. I am so confident in my size, in the way that I wear my hair and who I am. They do not bother me. If anything, I feel pity for them, she goes on to say. For how stupidly they acted. And Fred, The controversy took another turn when US Representative Mike Collins, a Republican representing parts of Georgia, shared the viral video on X the following day saying Ole Miss taking care of business. CNN has reached out to Collins office, but there hasn’t been an answer so far. And then yesterday, Congressman Collins tweet prompted the double the end of the end of ACP to send a letter to Congressional leadership asking for an investigation into Collins conduct. In part, the letter says the following. These actions, conducted by a member of the House of Representatives, regardless of intent, legitimize and propagate racism and undermine the principles of equality and justice that justice that our government is sworn to uphold.